ascorbic-acid and Pancreatic-Diseases

This monograph on the clinical chemistry of vitamin B12 reviews the literature on daily requirements, methods for measurement, the effects of drugs on vitamin B12 metabolism absorption, pregnancy, clinical conditions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, errors of metabolism, and reactions to vitamin therapy. Although only very small quantities of vitamin B12 are required to satisfy the daily requirement, a sufficient supply is stored in the liver to meet normal requirements for at least a 3-year period. A number of drugs are known to affect the absorption of vitamin B12, including neomycin, potassium chloride, p-aminosalicylic acid, and colchicine. Significantly reduced serum concentrations of vitamin B12 have been noted in users of oral contraceptives (OCs), although concentrations still remain within the limits of normal. It appears that the vitamin B12 level in OC users reestablishes itself at a different and somewhat lower level. Vitamin B12 binding protein appears to remain unchanged. A vitamin B12 deficiency is unusual in pregnant women who consume a normal, varied diet. On the other hand, lactating women whose diets are low in animal protein and dairy products may have problems providing enough vitamin B12 to meet their own and their infant's needs; supplementary oral vitamins should be considered.

Topics: Absorption; Adult; Alcoholism; Anemia, Pernicious; Ascorbic Acid; Autoantibodies; Biguanides; Biological Transport; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Chlorpromazine; Contraceptives, Oral; Diet; Female; Gastrectomy; Gastritis; Humans; Intrinsic Factor; Malabsorption Syndromes; Male; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Nervous System Diseases; Nitrous Oxide; Nutritional Requirements; Pancreatic Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Transcobalamins; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Transfusion; Cardiomyopathies; Deferoxamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ferritins; Growth Disorders; Heart Diseases; Hemosiderosis; Humans; Iron; Iron Chelating Agents; Liver; Liver Diseases; Pancreatic Diseases; Parathyroid Diseases; Pituitary Diseases; Thyroid Function Tests

Ascorbic acid has been suggested to regulate obesity in obese male rodents. Moreover, increased adipocyte size has been associated with metabolic disease. Thus, we investigated the effects of ascorbic acid on adipocyte hypertrophy and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese ovariectomized (OVX) C57BL/6J mice, an animal model of obese postmenopausal women. Administration of ascorbic acid (5% w/w in diet for 18 weeks) reduced the size of visceral adipocytes without changes in body weight and adipose tissue mass in HFD-fed obese OVX mice compared with obese OVX mice that did not receive ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid inhibited adipose tissue inflammation, as shown by the decreased number of crown-like structures and CD68-positive macrophages in visceral adipose tissues. Ascorbic acid-treated mice exhibited improved hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose and insulin tolerance compared with nontreated obese mice. Pancreatic islet size and insulin-positive β-cell area in ascorbic acid-treated obese OVX mice decreased to the levels observed in low-fat diet-fed lean mice. Ascorbic acid also suppressed pancreatic triglyceride accumulation in obese mice. These results suggest that ascorbic acid may reduce insulin resistance and pancreatic steatosis partly by suppressing visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and adipose tissue inflammation in obese OVX mice.

Topics: Adipocytes; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Diet, High-Fat; Female; Hypertrophy; Inflammation; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Obese; Obesity; Pancreatic Diseases

Because previous studies have reported depleted antioxidant capacity in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), prevention of free radical production has gained importance in antifibrotic treatment strategies for CP. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid on oxidative capacity and pancreatic damage in experimental CP.. CP was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by infusion of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) into the tail vein. Ascorbic acid was given intraperitoneally at a daily dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. The treatment groups were as follows: group 1, DBTC plus intraperitoneal physiologic saline; group 2, DBTC plus intraperitoneal ascorbic acid; group 3, solvent plus intraperitoneal physiologic saline; group 4, no operation plus intraperitoneal physiologic saline. Each group contained 15 animals. Treatment was started after CP was established. After 4 weeks of treatment, serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, pancreatic tissue oxidative stress was analyzed, and the degree of pancreatic damage was determined.. Ascorbic acid treatment markedly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in pancreatic tissue (p < 0.01 for both). Significant serum hyaluronic acid and laminin reductions were observed in group 2 as compared with group 1 (p < 0.05). However, the serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels remained elevated when compared with those of groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Histopathologic scores were also lower in animals with CP that underwent ascorbic acid-treatment (p < 0.05).. Ascorbic acid treatment alleviated the degree of oxidative stress and pancreatic damage in rat CP. Antioxidant treatment might be considered a potential option to improve the pathologic process in CP.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Hyaluronic Acid; Laminin; Male; Organotin Compounds; Oxidative Stress; Pancreas; Pancreatic Diseases; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Calcinosis; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; DNA Damage; Erythrocytes; Humans; Nutrition Disorders; Oxidative Stress; Pancreatic Diseases; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

Topics: Adrenal Gland Diseases; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cholesterol; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane; Estradiol; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Pancreatic Diseases; Parathyroid Diseases; Phenytoin; Radionuclide Imaging; Selenomethionine; Technetium; Thyroid Diseases

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Chick Embryo; Histocytochemistry; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Pancreatic Diseases; Pharmacology; Research

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Blood; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Pancreatic Diseases; Vitamins